Increase Value of Consumer Coupons
Web page data is generated for rendering coupons, for a currency of value available to a user for increasing a value of the coupons and for one or more activities that can be used to increase the currency of value. When at least one of the activities has been completed by the user, the currency of value is increased by an amount specified by the activity that has been completed. A selection is received of a coupon whose value is to be increased. Additional web page data is generated to including dollar amounts to which the coupon may be increased. When the user selects one of the dollar amounts, a number of the currency of value is determined corresponding to the selected dollar amount. The value of the coupon is increased by the selected dollar amount. The currency of value available to the user are decreased by the number of the currency of value corresponding to the dollar amount.
Consumer coupons are a popular way for consumers to lower shopping costs. Coupons are commonly available in hard copy, for example, through newspapers, through the mail and in supermarket flyers. Many consumers make it a habit to cut out coupons and take the coupons with them when they shop. Hard copy coupons are typically fixed value coupons that cannot be changed.
Another way to distribute consumer coupons is through the Internet. Using the Internet, a greater variety of coupons may be available to consumers. Data mining and other techniques may provide a way to direct specific coupons to specific customers based on customer profiles and buying habits.
SUMMARYEmbodiments of the disclosure are directed to a method to increase a value of a coupon. The method comprises: on a first electronic computing device, generating web page data to be rendered on a second electronic computing device, the web page data including information for rendering a plurality of coupons on the second electronic computing device, the web page data also including information for a currency of value available to a user to increase a value of one or more of the plurality of coupons, the web page data also including information for one or more activities that can be used to increase the currency of value available to the user; when at least one of the activities has been completed by the user, increasing the currency of value available to the user by an amount specified by the activity that has been completed; receiving a selection of a coupon whose value is to be increased; generating additional web page data to be rendered on the second electronic computing device, the additional web page data including dollar amounts to which the coupon may be increased; receiving at the first electronic computing device, an indication that the user has selected one of the dollar amounts to increase the value of the coupon; determining a number of the currency of value corresponding to the selected dollar amount; increasing the value of the coupon by the selected dollar amount; and decreasing the currency of value available to the user by the number of the currency of value corresponding to the dollar amount.
In another aspect, a method implemented on a client computer for increasing a value of a coupon comprises: rendering a user interface on the client computer, the user interface providing a display of a plurality of coupons available to a user, the user interface also providing a display of a plurality of activities that can be used to increase a currency of points that can be used to increase a value of a coupon, the user interface also providing a display of an amount of points available to the user to increase a value of the plurality of coupons; receiving a selection of a coupon to be increased in value; after the selection of the coupon is received, rendering a graphic on the user interface for increasing the value of the coupon; receiving a selection of a dollar amount to which the value of the coupon is to be increased; and when the selection of the dollar amount is received, rendering a change in the amount of points available to the user, the change in the amount of points corresponding to the dollar amount.
In yet another aspect, a computer-readable data storage memory comprising instructions that, when executed by a processing unit of an electronic computing device, causes the processing unit to: render a user interface on the client computer, the user interface providing a display of a plurality of coupons available to a user, the user interface also providing a display of a plurality of activities that can be used to increase a currency of points that can be used to increase a value of a coupon, the user interface also providing a display of an amount of points available to the user to increase a value of the plurality of coupons; receive a selection of a coupon to be increased in value; after the selection of the coupon is received, render a graphic on the user interface for increasing the value of the coupon; receive a selection of a dollar amount to which the value of the coupon is to be increased; and when the selection of the dollar amount is received, render a change in the amount of points available to the user, the change in the amount of points corresponding to the dollar amount.
The details of one or more techniques are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of these techniques will be apparent from the description, drawings, and claims.
The present disclosure is directed to a system and methods for increasing values of coupons made available over the Internet. Users logon to a coupon website and can use a currency of value that may be applied to increase the value of coupons made available on the website. The currency of value is translated into a monetary amount when a user decides to increase a value of a coupon. The currency of value may include items like points, cash or similar items that can be exchanged into an economic value, such as a monetary amount. In this disclosure, the currency of value is discussed in terms of a currency of points. However, other currencies of value may be used.
When a user decides to use a portion of available points to increase the value of a coupon, the user selects a coupon and then determines how much to increase the value of the coupon. When the user decides on the amount to increase the value of the coupon, the currency of available points is reduced by an amount corresponding to the amount of the increase. Typically, the currency of available points is reduced by 100 points for every 10 cents that a coupon is increased in value, although other point to money ratios may be used.
Each user may increase the currency of available points by performing certain activities. Activities may include such user actions as signing up for a newsletter for a product, watching a video about the product, liking the product on a social networking website, following the product on a social networking web site, etc. Other activities that may increase the currency available points are possible. In addition, each user may increase the currency of available points in other ways. For example, some retailers may award the user points if a coupon for a product is redeemed at a specific retailer location. In this way, retailers may incentivize customers to redeem their coupon at the retailer's location instead of at a competing retailer's location. As another example, the currency of available points may be increased based on marketing demographics for a user. Marketing demographics may include such items as age, sex, purchase history, buying data, social profile, location, etc. Other ways to increase the currency of available points for a user are possible.
The coupons presented to a user and the activities associated with increasing the value of a coupon can be based upon an identity of the user. A user logs onto the coupon website and may provide personal information relating to educational level, income and buying interests. The personal information, a history of a user's activity on the coupon website and other information may be used to personalize the coupon experience for the user. Personalizing the user experience may make it more likely that the coupons presented to the user are of interest to the user, that the coupons are used and that the activities associated with increasing the value of the coupons are activities that the user is likely to engage in. In addition, the value of a coupon may be increased by completing a specific group of activities, sometimes known as quest activities, as discussed later herein. The value of a coupon may also be increased by sharing the coupon with friends. Other ways to increase the value of a coupon are possible.
The example home user interface 200 also includes tabs for accessing aspects of the website. The tabs include a browse coupons tab 202, a my coupons tab 204, an earn points tab 206, a my quests tab 208 and a my profile tab 210. In addition, the home user interface 200 displays the points 220 that are available for the user and a coupon printer graphic 222, indicating a number of coupons that are ready to be printed. The browse coupons tab 202 displays coupons available on the website for the user. The my coupons tab 204 displays coupons that have been selected by the user. The earn points tab 206 displays activities that may be used to earn points that can increase the currency of available points used to increase coupon values. The my quests tab 208 displays a summary of quests that the user has started. A quest is a group of activities for a product, such that when all quest activities for the product are completed, the user may earn a bonus coupon for the product. The my profile tab 210 displays profile information for the user and permits the user to modify the user's profile. Detailed discussions of these tabs are provided later herein.
As shown in
When the user decides on a specific dollar amount to which the coupon is to be increased, the user clicks a button 514 to increase the coupon to the specified dollar amount. The user can continue to increase the value of the coupon until the user exhausts the user's points. For example, if the user had 300 points, and each 10 cent increase costs 100 points, the user can increase a coupon up to 30 cents.
The my coupons user interface 800 also lists a status of coupons for the user that have already been printed. For example, the my coupons user interface 800 shows that coupon 812 for “The Astonishingly Superior Shave Cream” was printed on Feb. 16, 2013. Also shown is a graphic 814, indicating that when coupon 812 is actually used, and when a receipt for coupon 812 is uploaded to the coupon website, the user will receive additional points, in this case 75 points. The additional points will be added to the user's currency of available points that may be used to increase a value of other coupons.
Quest activity 1302 is an activity that launched quest 1210. As discussed, the launching activity for quest 1210 is the printing of the coupon for “The Astonishingly Superior Shave Cream” product. Status area 1310 shows that quest activity 1302 is completed. Quest activity 1304 is using the printed coupon. Quest activity 1304 is completed when “The Astonishingly Superior Shave Cream” product is purchased using the printed coupon and a receipt of the purchase is uploaded to the coupon website. When the receipt is uploaded, 100 points are added to the user's currency of available points. In other examples, the receipt does not need to be uploaded to be redeemed. For these examples, using the coupon is sufficient; points are added to the user's currency of points when notification of the coupon's redemption is received by the coupon's processor. The 100 points that are added to the user's currency of points is an example number of points. A different number of points, for example 75 points, may be added to the user's currency of available points.
Status area 1312 shows that a current status of quest 1304 activity is waiting for a retailer proof of purchase. Quest activity 1306 is liking “The Astonishingly Superior Shave Cream” product on Facebook. When quest activity 1306 is completed, 85 points are added to the user's currency of available points.
At operation 1404, a currency of points is translated to monetary amounts for the coupon. In this example, the coupon has a face value of $1.00. In this example, every 100 points corresponds to a 10 cent increase in the value of the coupon. In other examples, a different ratio of points to monetary amount may be used. Typically, a fixed number of monetary amounts are generated. For example, monetary amounts of $1.10, $1.25, $1.50, $1.75 and $1.90 may be generated. These monetary amounts translate to point values of 100, 250, 500, 750 and 900, respectively. In other examples, different monetary amounts may be used.
At operation 1406, web page data is generated that includes the monetary amounts generated for the coupon. The web page data is sent to client computer 102 to be rendered on a display screen of client computer 102.
At operation 1408, a selection of a monetary amount for the coupon is received at web server computer 108. In this example, the user at client computer 102 makes a selection of one of $1.10, $1.25, $1.50, $1.75 or $1.90 as a value to which the coupon is to be increased. The selected value is the monetary amount for the coupon received at operation 1408.
At operation 1410, the coupon value is adjusted to the selected monetary amount, in this example one of $1.10, $1.25, $1.50, $1.75 or $1.90. At operation 1412, the currency of points available to the user is decreased in relation to the value to which the coupon is adjusted. In this example the currency of points available to the user is decreased by one of 100, 250, 500, 750 or 900 points.
At operation 1504, the user selects a coupon and the selection of the coupon is received at client computer 102. The user then clicks an icon on the coupon for increasing the value of the coupon. As a result of the user clicking the icon, at operation 1506, a graphic for increasing the value of the coupon is rendered on client computer 102. In some examples, the graphic has the appearance of a speedometer, with dollar amounts of the coupon shown on a semi-circular top of the speedometer and with a speedometer needle that moves to point to a selected dollar amount. In some examples, the icon on the coupon for increasing the value of the coupon is a miniaturized rendering of the speedometer.
At operation 1510, the user adjusts the speedometer to select a dollar amount to which the value of the coupon is to be increased. In some examples, the user clicks an increase button to increase the dollar amount and a decrease button to decrease the dollar amount. Typically, the coupon can be increased by predetermined fixed dollar amounts.
At operation 1512, as the dollar amount changes, client computer 102 renders a corresponding available points value. In some examples, the available points are rendered as a counter on the graphic. The counter displays a point value corresponding to the dollar amount. The point value corresponding to the dollar amount is based on a translation ratio between a monetary value and a point value. In some examples, the point ratio is 100 points for every 10 cents of monetary value.
At operation 1514, a dollar amount is selected by the user and received at client computer 102. The selected dollar amount is displayed on client computer 102. In some examples, the selected dollar amount is rendered in a part of the graphic, showing the dollar amount to which the coupon is to be increased.
The points are monetized under various models. For example, in one embodiment, the manufacturer/brand owner associated with a given activity (e.g., a Like on Facebook) will pay a certain value to the system for the activity. This value can be directly or indirectly applied to fund the points given to the users. In an embodiment where retailers offer points to the users to redeem a coupon at a specific retailer location (e.g. at a Target store or a Wal-Mart store), the retailer will pay a certain value to the system for redeeming the coupon.
When the coupons with the increased values are redeemed, there are different models that allow for the compensation for that increased amount back to the given retailer/seller. Typically, the manufacturer compensates the retailer for redemption of the coupon, plus a nominal amount for covering the retailer's costs of redemption. In one model, the increased value is paid by the manufacturer back to the retailer. In another model, the system pays the increased value back to the retailer. In yet still another model, the retailer pays for the increased value. Other configurations are possible.
The mass storage device 1614 is connected to the CPU 1602 through a mass storage controller (not shown) connected to the bus 1622. The mass storage device 1614 and its associated computer-readable data storage media provide non-volatile, non-transitory storage for the web server computer 108. Although the description of computer-readable data storage media contained herein refers to a mass storage device, such as a hard disk or solid state disk, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that computer-readable data storage media can be any available non-transitory, physical device or article of manufacture from which the central display station can read data and/or instructions.
Computer-readable data storage media include volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer-readable software instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Example types of computer-readable data storage media include, but are not limited to, RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other solid state memory technology, CD-ROMs, digital versatile discs (“DVDs”), other optical storage media, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by the web server computer 108.
According to various embodiments of the invention, the web server computer 108 may operate in a networked environment using logical connections to remote network devices through the network 1620, such as a local network, the Internet, or another type of network. The web server computer 108 may connect to the network 1620 through a network interface unit 1604 connected to the bus 1622. It should be appreciated that the network interface unit 1604 may also be utilized to connect to other types of networks and remote computing systems. The web server computer 108 also includes an input/output controller 1606 for receiving and processing input from a number of other devices, including a keyboard, a mouse, a touch user interface display screen, or another type of input device. Similarly, the input/output controller 1606 may provide output to a touch user interface display screen, a printer, or other type of output device.
As mentioned briefly above, the mass storage device 1614 and the RAM 1610 of the web server computer 108 can store software instructions and data. The software instructions include an operating system 1618 suitable for controlling the operation of the web server computer 108. The mass storage device 1614 and/or the RAM 1610 also store software instructions, that when executed by the CPU 1602, cause the web server computer 108 to provide the functionality of the web server computer 108 discussed in this document. For example, the mass storage device 1614 and/or the RAM 1610 can store software instructions that, when executed by the CPU 1602, cause the web server computer 108 to display web page data on the display screen of the web server computer 108.
Other example physical components of the web server computer 108 are possible. In general, the web server computer 108 supports a computing platform that provides capabilities for a standardized interface (for example USB) to retrieve data from a standardized network communication interface (for example WiFi), a standardarized wireless communication interface (for example Bluetooth or NFC) and a user interface.
There are various advantages associated with the systems and methods described herein. For example, by allowing the user to earn points by completing activities, the user is incentivized to perform activities that are beneficial to the brands or retailers.
Further, the points are provided like a currency to the user, which allows the user to decide how to apply the points and in what amount. For example, the user may decide to apply all points to a single coupon or to spread the points out over two or more coupons. This gives the user flexibility when deciding how to apply the user's points.
Although various embodiments are described herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that many modifications may be made thereto within the scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it is not intended that the scope of the disclosure in any way be limited by the examples provided.
Claims
1. A method to increase a value of a coupon, the method comprising:
- on a first electronic computing device, generating web page data to be rendered on a second electronic computing device, the web page data including information for rendering a plurality of coupons on the second electronic computing device, the web page data also including information for a currency of value available to a user to increase a value of one or more of the plurality of coupons, the web page data also including information for one or more activities that can be used to increase the currency of value available to the user;
- when at least one of the activities has been completed by the user, increasing the currency of value available to the user by an amount specified by the activity that has been completed;
- receiving a selection of a coupon whose value is to be increased;
- generating additional web page data to be rendered on the second electronic computing device, the additional web page data including dollar amounts to which the coupon may be increased;
- receiving at the first electronic computing device, an indication that the user has selected one of the dollar amounts to increase the value of the coupon;
- determining a number of the currency of value corresponding to the selected dollar amount;
- increasing the value of the coupon by the selected dollar amount; and
- decreasing the currency of value available to the user by the number of the currency of value corresponding to the dollar amount.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the coupons rendered on the first electronic computing device are determined by an identity of the user.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more activities that can be used to increase the available currency of value are determined by an identity of the user.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising increasing the points available for the user based on marketing demographics for the user.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the marketing demographics comprise one or more of an age, sex, purchase history, buying data, social profile and location of the user.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising increasing the currency of value available for the user based on redeeming a coupon at a specific retailer location.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the web page data further comprises information to render a graphic that can be used to adjust a value of a coupon.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the graphic displays the points available to the user when the dollar amount is selected.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the web page further comprises information for rendering one or more value quests for a product, each value quest comprising a plurality of activities which, when successfully completed, results in a bonus coupon for the product for the user.
10. A method implemented on an electronic computing device for increasing a value of a coupon, the method comprising:
- rendering a user interface on the electronic computing device, the user interface providing a display of a plurality of coupons available to a user, the user interface also providing a display of a plurality of activities that can be used to increase a currency of points that can be used to increase a value of a coupon, the user interface also providing a display of an amount of points available to the user to increase a value of the plurality of coupons;
- receiving a selection of a coupon to be increased in value;
- after the selection of the coupon is received, rendering a graphic on the user interface for increasing the value of the coupon;
- receiving a selection of a dollar amount to which the value of the coupon is to be increased; and
- when the selection of the dollar amount is received, rendering a change in the amount of points available to the user, the change in the amount of points corresponding to the dollar amount.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the graphic on the user interface for increasing the value of the coupon includes a display mechanism that displays a plurality of specific dollar amounts for the coupon and also displays the points available to the user after each specific dollar value is selected.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein the dollar amount can be incremented by the selection of one area on the user interface and decremented by the selection of another area on the user interface, the dollar amount being incremented or decremented each time the corresponding area on the user interface is selected.
13. The method of claim 10, further comprising, after receiving a selection of the coupon, receiving a selection of an area of the coupon designated for increasing the value of the coupon, the graphic on the user interface being rendered after the selection of the area of the coupon designated for increasing the value of the coupon is received.
14. The method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of activities that can be used to increase the points available to the user include watching a video for a product, signing up for newsletter for a product, liking the product on a social networking website, following the product on a social networking website and redeeming a coupon at a specific retailer location.
15. The method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of activities that can be used to increase the value of a coupon include sharing the coupon with a friend.
16. The method of claim 10, wherein the user interface further provides a display of a specific set of activities for each of a plurality of products that can be used to obtain a bonus coupon for a product when the specific set of activities for the product are completed.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the user interface further provides a summary of a status of the specific set of activities for the plurality of products, the summary indicating a value of points available for completing the specific set of activities, the summary also indicating a status of how many activities in each specific set of activities have been completed.
18. A computer-readable data storage memory comprising instructions that, when executed by a processing unit of an electronic computing device, cause the processing unit to:
- render a user interface on the client computer, the user interface providing a display of a plurality of coupons available to a user, the user interface also providing a display of a plurality of activities that can be used to increase a currency of points that can be used to increase a value of a coupon, the user interface also providing a display of an amount of points available to the user to increase a value of the plurality of coupons;
- receive a selection of a coupon to be increased in value;
- after the selection of the coupon is received, render a graphic on the user interface for increasing the value of the coupon;
- receive a selection of a dollar amount to which the value of the coupon is to be increased; and
- when the selection of the dollar amount is received, render a change in the amount of points available to the user, the change in the amount of points corresponding to the dollar amount.
19. The computer-readable data storage memory of claim 18, wherein the graphic on the user interface for increasing the value of the coupon includes a display mechanism that displays a plurality of specific dollar amounts for the coupon and also displays the points available to the user after each specific dollar amount is selected.
20. The computer-readable data storage memory of claim 18, wherein the user interface further provides a display of a specific set of activities for each of a plurality of products that can be used to obtain a bonus coupon for a product when each of the specific set of activities for the product are completed.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 14, 2013
Publication Date: Sep 18, 2014
Patent Grant number: 10032183
Inventor: Brian Thomas Wiegand (Waunakee, WI)
Application Number: 13/828,478
International Classification: G06Q 30/02 (20060101);